Kitabı oku: «Forty Years of 'Spy'», sayfa 19
Praise is as acceptable to an artist as to any other worker, and in addition to the kindly tributes of my personal friends I should like to express appreciation for those I have received from strangers. I was particularly gratified to receive the following letter:—
"Nov. 19th, 1904.
"My dear Sir,
"As a reader of 'Vanity Fair,' I much desire to take the opportunity of wishing you many happy returns for your birthday on Monday, and of sending you a few cordial and sincere words of greeting for that occasion. I suppose you will receive many such messages from friends both known and unknown, whilst others not caring to trouble you will at least think upon your name with much respect, and with such thoughts will couple expressions of good will.
"This is, of course, quite as it should be, and, personally, I would assure you of my very high esteem and regard. I thank you most sincerely for the pleasure your cartoons ever gave me, and for the successful part you take in making 'Vanity Fair' such a splendid publication. I read much, owing to indifferent health precluding my indulgence in vigorous exercise of any kind, thereby necessitating my leisure being spent in quiet and instructive pastimes—such as a study of art, literature, and music.
"I would express in all sincerity my fervent hope that every happiness and joy this world can possibly give may be yours to enjoy, with an entire lack of all that tends in any way to cause trouble or promote pain. Particularly do I wish you excellent health. Nothing, I feel sure, adds to or detracts more from life than the physical state—hence my remark. May all good luck and fortune attend you, and permit you to continue for many years yet your splendid work as an artist. Somehow I feel that words are quite inadequate to express all that is in one's heart to say. I can only ask you, therefore, my dear Sir, to accept my poorly expressed words as heartfelt and sincere, and believe them to come from one who takes the keenest interest in yourself and your fine work.
"Can you kindly oblige by replying to the two following questions for me:—
"1. Where may a brief and authentic sketch of your life and career be found? I much desire to have the opportunity of perusing such.
"2. Also may I enquire where a good portrait of yourself may be procured? I am anxious to have a good one for framing, as a slight personal 'memento' (if I may so call it) of one whose work greatly interests me.
"Wishing you again many happy returns, offering you my sincerest congratulations, and hoping you are well,
"I am, my dear Sir,"Very sincerely yours,"A Reader of 'Vanity Fair.'
"Leslie Ward, Esq., 'Spy.'"
So kind a letter I naturally preserve with gratification.
POSTSCRIPT
In March last, and for the two months that I spent in the Empire Hospital, Vincent Square, I received from Mr. Jocelyn Swan and Mr. Reginald Ingram the best surgical and medical skill that man could wish for. The hospital itself, which is for paying patients (excepting during the war, in the cases of military officers), and which contains a number of comfortable private rooms, is perfectly managed. Then it was that a combination of Brighton air and a delightfully conducted nursing home hastened my convalescence and quickly gave me the desire to work again.
One of the principal consolations of convalescence I found, as soon as I was well enough to receive them, lay in the visits of my friends. It was with particular pleasure—for we had not met for a long time—that I saw Sir Willoughby Maycock by my bedside at the Empire Hospital. I was also much honoured and gratified by receiving a visit from the Duchess of Argyll, who, on learning of my illness, expressed a wish to see me.
During convalescence I made up my mind to write an additional chapter of this book, and indeed I went so far as to cause search to be made for the notes upon which the chapter was to be based, and for the material which I had prepared before my illness. Unfortunately, however, notes and material alike had disappeared—irretrievably; and I am forced to conclude without the chapter I had planned. I should like to append here a note which really bears upon the pages dealing with my school-days at Eton, and which to my mind has considerable historical interest. It refers to the Brocas at Eton.
"Sir John de Brocas was a Gascon Knight who became an officer of Edward the Second's Household, and settled in England. His third son, Sir Bernard Brocas, was a great favourite with the Black Prince, and Master of the Horse to his father Edward the Third. He was also a friend of William of Wykeham, sat in ten parliaments for Hampshire, and chamberlain to Richard the Second's queen. By his second marriage (in 1361) with Mary, widow of Sir John de Borhunte, he became hereditary Master of the Royal Buckhounds, a post which his descendants held until 1633, when they sold it. He owned a lot of property in and about Windsor and Clewer, whence comes the name the Brocas Clump, etc., but his chief estate was at Beaurepaire, near Basingstoke. He died in 1395, and was buried in St. Edmund's Chapel, Westminster Abbey."
Finally, I see that in telling the story of Craigie at the Beefsteak Club on pages 175-176 I have omitted to mention some members who almost invariably accompanied him and helped greatly to make the Beefsteak meetings so agreeable. I should not like to appear forgetful of Lord Hothfield, Sir George Chetwynd, Mr. 'Johnny' Morgan, Colonel Walter Dally Jones, and Sir J. K. Fowler, of all of whom I have such pleasant memories.
I must now conclude with thanking my friend Charles Jerningham, 'The Linkman,' for his introduction (after persuading me to write my reminiscences) to Mr. Spalding of Messrs. Chatto & Windus. From him and others in this old firm of publishers I have received every help and courtesy. I now say farewell, and hope that the good public will forgive what shortcoming there may be in "Forty Years of 'Spy.'"
